Over 600,000 Women in Balochistan Missing from Voter Lists, Report Reveals

Gwadar: A recent report has revealed that more than 670,000 women in Balochistan are not included in electoral rolls, highlighting a significant gender gap in voter registration across the province.

According to a survey conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives under the Pakistan Women Leaders Program, the exclusion represents a 12 percent gender gap in voter registration. The survey was supported by the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union.

Experts say the large registration gap is preventing a significant number of women from participating in political decision-making processes in their communities and the country. The report notes that several barriers stand in the way of women becoming registered voters, ranging from difficulties in obtaining identity cards to social restrictions.

Many women in the province do not possess a valid identity card issued by National Database and Registration Authority, which is a basic requirement for voter registration. The absence of registration centers in rural and remote areas has further complicated the situation.

In many communities, traditional attitudes and family restrictions discourage women from leaving their homes to obtain identity documents or register to vote. A lack of awareness about political and democratic rights also contributes to the problem.

Analysts warn that the issue is not limited to Balochistan, noting that nearly 10 million women across Pakistan remain deprived of their fundamental right to vote, which weakens the country’s democratic foundations.

The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives has urged the government and relevant institutions, including the Election Commission of Pakistan, to take immediate steps to bridge the gender gap. Recommendations include deploying mobile registration units in remote areas, strengthening coordination between election authorities and NADRA, and launching community awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of women’s participation in elections.

The report was highlighted again in connection with International Women’s Day, emphasizing that true democracy can only be achieved when all citizens—especially women—have equal access to identity documentation and the ballot box.